Tractor-mounted corn picker



Jan. 11, 1949.

Filed April 11, 1942 B. M. HYMAN ETAL TRACTOR-MOUNTED CORN PICKER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 1l, 1949.

B. M; HYMAN ET AL TRACTOR-MOUNTED CORN PICKER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 11, 1942 Illlli liv.

Jan. l1, 1949. B. M. HYMAN Erm.

TRACTOR-MOUNTED CORN PICKER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 11, 1942 PMQIPAHLQ waff).

B. M. HYMAN ETAL TRACTOR-MOUNTED CORN PICKER Jan.1 1,1949.

5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 11. 1942 Jan'. 11, 1949. B. M. HYMAN Erm.

TRACTOR-MOUNTED CORN PICKER 5 sheets-sheet 5 Filed April 11, 1942 Patented Jan. It, 1949 TRACTOR-MOUN TED CORN PICKER Benjamin M. Hyman and Elof '1L Karlsson,

Moline, Ill., assignors to International Harvester Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application April 11, 1942, Serial No. 438,582

3 claims. (ci. 56-18) This invention relates to a harvester. More specically it relates to a tractor-mounted corn picker. e

Tractor-mounted corn pickers in which corn is conveyed over the rear axle of the tractor by rolls or by conveyors may be somewhat diillcult to remove from the tractors. Tractor-mounted corn pickers in which vvarious mechanisms, such as rolls and conveyors, are at a level below the tractor axle and extend beneath the tractor axle may be more easily removed from the tractor. The corn picker of the present invention is of the latter type. g

i Anobject of the present invention is to provide an improved harvester.

A further object is, the provision of an improved corn picker. p

Another object is to providev an improved tractor-mounted harvester.

Still another object is the provision oi a tractor-mounted harvester in which various mechanisms extend beneath the rear axle of the tractor.

According to the present invention, a corn harvester comprising two picking funits 'is mounted upon a tractor with the picking units at opposite sides thereof and extending beneath the rear axle. The picking units are pivotally mounted upon a transverse member secured behind and to the tractor axle. A wagon elevator is mounted upon the ltransverse member and includes two conveyor loops which convey corn-ears from the picking umts to the tractor center line and along the center line to a wagon connected at the rear of the tractor.

lathe-drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view showing the novel corn picker of the present invention mounted upon a tractor;

Figure 2 is a plan view showing a single picking unit of thenovel corn picker and the half of the tractor upon which the picking unit is mounted; l

Figure 3 is a side View with parts removed showing the corn picker and the tractor;

Figure 4 is a. schematic side view showing the `means by which the corn picker is mounted upon the tractor;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken along the lines 5--5 of Figure 2; v

Figure 6 is a schematic side 'view showing the driving means for the corn picker; A,

Figure 7 is a rear view with parts removed showing the supporting means and the driving means for the corn picker;

Figure 8 is a plan view of the novel wagon elevator used with the corn picker of the present invention;

Figure 9 is a side view of the wagon elevator;

Figure 1.0 is a sectional view taken along the lines III-I0 of Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken along the lines IL-II of Figure 8;

yFigure :12 is a sectional view taken along the lines I2-I2 of Figure 8:

Figure 13 is a detail View showing an ear forwarder; and

Figure 14 shows the corn picker detached from the tractor.

The reference character I 0 designates a tractor which includes a narrow longitudinally extending body II, a narrow front truck I2, a transversely extending rear axle I3, and rear wheels I4 at the ends of the axle I3. Upon the tractor i0 is mounted a corn harvester designated generally by the reference character I5. The corn harvester comprises two picking units i6,

' one at each side of the tractor body I I and each comprising a snapping unit I1 and husking unit I8. Gather points I9 are connected to the front of the snapping units I1, and a central gather point 20 embraces the front of the tractor body I I. Each snapping unit'includes a pair of snapping rolls 2l and a pair of gather chains 22.

Each husking unit I8 includes two sets of husking rolls 23, shown in 'section in Figure 5 and in plan in Figurez. Each husking unit also includes an elevating conveyor 24 which has a generally horizontal portion 25 extendingbeneath the husking rolls 23 and an inclined portion 26 extending upwardly beneath the tractor axle I3 to a point to the rear of the axle. A bottom 26a formed of a sheet-metal member .is positioned immediately beneath the top flight of the con veyor so that husked corn and shelled c'orn may be moved along it by the conveyor. An ear for- Warder 21 is positioned over the husking rolls 23 and over" the rear end of the snapping rolls 2l so as to bridge the gap between the snapping rolls and the husking rolls. AsY shown in Figure 13, the -ear forwarder 21 comprises chain links 21a adapted to engage driving sprockets, interconnecting angle members 2lb, and rubber ilaps 21c secured'to/the angle members. A fan 28 is positioned beneath the inclined portion 26 of the Y' conveyor 2E within acasing 29 having an open ing 30 through which ablast of air may be directed upwardly and rearwardly beyond the rear end of the conveyor 2,5.

The picking umts just described are driven by 3 means shown in Figure 6. A power take-off shaft 30 extends from the rear of the tractor body II and carries a pulley 3| which drives a belt 32 in turn driving a pulley 33 mounted upon a shaft 34 extending into a gear box 35. A shaft 36 extends transversely from each side of the gear box 35 to a picking unit I6. A pulley 31 mounted upon the shaft 36 drives a belt 38 in turn driving a pulley 39 mounted upon a shaft 4,41| driving the elevating conveyor 24 at its rear end.- A pulley 4I mounted upon the shaft 36 drives a belt 42 in turn driving a pulley 43 mounted upon a shaft 44 driving the fan 28. A pulley 45 mounted upon the shaft 36 drives a belt 46 extending forwardly and driving a pulley 41 mounted upon a shaft 48. The shaft 48 carries bevel gears 49 which engage bevel gears 50 driving the sets of husking rolls 23. A bevel ,gear I engages one bevel gear 49` so as to transmit drive to the snapping rolls 2 I. One end of the shaft 48 carries a sprocket 52 driving a sprocket chain 53 in turn driving a sprocket 54 mounted upon a shaft 55. The shaft 55 carries bevel gears 56 which drive bevel gears 51 in turn driving gather chains 22. The shaft 55 also carries gears 58 which drive gears 59 mounted upon a shaft 60 driving the ear forwarder 21.

The picker units are carried upon the tractor by means best shown in Figures 2, 4, and 7. Channel members 62 are secured by means of bolts 6I to the rear axle I3 at points generally adjacent the tractor body II and generally over the inner sides of the picking units I6, as shown in Figure '1. vertically extending angle members 63 are secured to the channel members 62 by bolts and nuts 64. Short angle members 65 are secured, as by welding or soldering, to the lower ends of angle members 63. A tube 66 of square section is secured to the angle members 65 by bolts and nuts 61. The Iangle members 65 contact the top and rear sides of the square tube 66, and the bolts 61 extend vertically and transversely through the square tube 66. Adjacent each end of the tube 66 is a bracket 68 formed of an angle member 69, which embraces the top and front sides of the square tube 66, and uprights extending forwardly and upwardly from the tube 66 and being secured to the angle members 69 as by soldering or welding. Each upright 10 carries a bearing box 1I in which is rotatably mounted a shaft 36. Reinforcing plates 12, forming parts of the sides of the husking units I8, are pivotally supported upon portions of the bearing box 1| indicated at 13. The plates 12 of the sides of the husking units are indicated in full lines, and the husking units are otherwise indicated. Each bracket 66 is secured by its angle member 69 to the square tube 66, transverse and vertical bolts and nuts 14 passing through the tube 66. It will be seen that adjacent the inner end of each bracket 68 there is a pair of holes 15. Thus, the transverse bolts shown at the inner ends of the brackets 68 may be shifted from the position shown to one of the holes for lateral adjustment of the brackets 68 upon the square tube 66. When the brackets 68 are thus shifted outwardly, the bolts 14 at the outer ends of the bracket 68 may extend through one of pairs of openings 16 in the angle members 69. Mid-points of the picker units I6 are supported upon a channel member 11 extending transversely of Iand beneath the tractor body, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. As shown in Figure 5, each end of the channel member 11 carries a fabricated sheet metal member 18 which is bolted, as at 19, to a casting 80 supporting the front ends also bolted, as at 8|, to one of two channel stiffening members 82 extending along the base of the picking units. In accordance with the adjustment of the picking units transversely by means of a shifting of the brackets 68 along the square tube 88 as previously described, the fabricated members 18 may also be shifted with respect to the channel member 11. Each fabricated member has a plurality of holes 83 through which bolts 84 pass for securement of the members 18 to the channel members 11. Each end of the channel members 11 is carried by a pair of spaced elements 85 welded or soldered to the channel member and having pivotally connected between them by means of a bolt 86 a plate 81. Each plate 81 is connected by a link 88 to a part 89 secured to a side of the tractor body II. A counter-balancing spring device 90 is connected at one end, as at 9|, to the plate 81 and at the other end to one vertically extending channel member 63, as at 92. Adjustment of the picking units I6 about the bearing boxes 1I, or in effect about the axis of the shafts 36, is accomplished by a detent lever 93 xable to a dentate member 94 and connected by means of an extensible link 95 to a part 96 secured to one of the picking units I6. As shown in Figures 6 and "I, the square tube 66 also supports a shallow channelmember 91 extending generally along the longitudinal center line of the tractor. The channel member 91 is secured to the tube 66 by an angle member 98 secured to the tube 66 by bolts 99 and to the channel member 91 by bolts |00. One end of the gear box 35 is supported on the channel member by a bracket I0| secured to the channel member. The other end of the gear box 35 is supported on tubular sections |02 resting upon the channel member 91. A U-bolt |03 embraces the end of the gear box 35, passes through the tubular sections |02, and secures that end of the gear box. A wagon, not shown, may be connected to the rear end of the channel member 91.

Figure 14 shows the corn picker'of the present invention detached from the tractor. The corn picker in detached position includes, beside the spaced picking units I6 e'ach comprising a snapping unit I1 and a husking unit I8, the channel member 11 which ties the picking units I6 together at their mid-points and the means pivotally supporting the picking units on the tractor axle I3, namely, the transverse tube 66,` vertical angles 63, members 62 attachable to the rear axle I3, and brackets 10 pivotally supporting the picking units I6 on the transverse tube 66 for pivotal movement about the shafts 36 as an axis. Also attached to the transverse tube 66 in detached position of the corn picker are rearwardly extending angles |05 which normally support the wagon elevator |04 but have no function in the detached picker of Figure 14 since the wagon elevator |04 has been removed therefrom.

The picking units I6 and the channel 11 connecting them constitute a rigid unit pivotally connected to the supporting means about the axis of the shafts 36. When the supporting means is removed, the rigid unit left, composed of beam 11 and picking units I6, is free and open at the rear and unobstructed by bracing. l

A corn picker of the present invention also includes a wagon elevator |04 for transferring corn ears from 'the husking units I8 to the wagon. The wagon elevator is supported upon angle members |05 extending rearwardly from the outer ends of the square tube 68. \Each angle member |06 includes an angle portion |06 engaging the rear and bottom sides ofthe tube 66 and secured thereto by transverse and vertical bolts |01. The rear end of the angle members |05 is formed as a bearing |08 in which is carried a pin |08 releasably held by means ||0. Upon the pin |09 rest spaced parts |I| projecting'from the forward end of the wagon elevator |04. As will be seen from Figure 8, the wagon elevator |04 comprises essentially two conveyor loops II2, each of which has a transversely extending first portion II3 extending from a ilrst point at the rear of one picker unit to a second point adjacent the longitudinal centerline of the tractor and a longitudinally extending second portion ||4 extend-l ing rearwardly from the second point and upwardly along the longitudinal centerline of the tractor to a third point rearwardly of the tractor. The longitudinally extending. portions |I4 pass through and along opposite sides of a central tubular housing ||5 formed, as indicated in Figure l1, of -channel sections |I6 and ||1. Each conveyor loop I|2 includes, in addition to the transverse portion I3 and longitudinally extending third portion H4, a diagonally extending portion |8 extending from said third point back to the first point at the rear of the corresponding picker unit which passes through a housing |19 formed, as indicated in Figure 11. of a section-|20 and a narrow channel section I2I closing the opening in the section |20. rihe forward end of the channel section ||6 is cut on a slope, as indicated at |22, so that the housing H5 is open at its forward end andexposes the longitudinal portions H4 of the conveyor loops ||2. The transverse portions ||3 of the conveyor loops are also exposed. being carried in channels |23. Asindicated in Figures 9 and 12, each of the channels |23 comprise a member |23a forming K one side and 'a bottom, and achannel member |231) forming the other side. A sheet |24 is secured to the member |23a as an extension to the one side. An angle member |24a reenforces the joint of the members 23a and |24. The sheets |24 are cut out at |25 (Figure l2) for reception of the very rear ends of the picking units i6, as shown in Figure 3. The horizontal edges `of the cut out portions |25 carry a rubber member |26 acting as a seal upon contact with the rear end of the pickingy unit |6. Extending between the central housing |I8 and the upper housings I9.

at their forward ends are sheets |21. Side members I21a extend from the sheets |24 as continuations. thereof along the housings |I9 as far as the sheets |21 extend. Members |21b extend from the sheets |24 toward one another into tangential contact. rThe sheets -|24 and |21 and into the wagon elevator.

6 leys |32 and pulleys |34 mounted upon shafts |36 positioned at the sides of the wagon elevator Ij04. Sprockets |36 upon the shafts |35 drive the conveyor loops ||2.

As best shown by the broken away section at the right end of Figure 8, the conveyor chains |I4 and ||8 at the rearward ends where they join together pass over a supporting sprocket |35a. This sprocket together with'the corre sponding sprocket |36 carry the conveyor structure Within the surrounding structure in which the conveyor operates.

AIn operation, the tractor i0 is driven through a iield of corn with adjacentrows of corn passing between the sets of snapping rolls 2|. Corn ears are snapped by the rolls 2| and pass upwardly therealong with the aidof the gather chains 22 and are delivered from the rear end of the snapping rolls 2| to the husking rolls 23 by aid of the ear forwarder belt 21. The belt 21 also serves to move the earsrearwardly along the husking rolls 23 which husk them. The husking ears pass from the rear end of the husking ,rolls to the conveyor 26 and are moved upwardly beneath the rear axle to the rear `thereof and are dumped Transverse portions I|3 of the Y conveyor loops ||2 move the ears transversely to the center line of the tractor, and thence the ears are moved upwardly. and rearwardly along the tractor center line by portions ||4 of the conveyor loops ||2 and are dumped into the wagon pulleyby the channel member 91. The part of the bottom 26a beneath the horizontal portion 26 of the elevating conveyor 24. catches the corn which is shelled by the husking rolls 23 and cooperates with the conveyor 24 to dump it in tothe wagon elevator |04 along with the ears of corn. The fan 28 of the husking unit i8 directsla blast of air through the opening 30 in the housing 29 rearwardly througha stream of corn ears and shelled corn as it falls from the elevating conveyor 26 into the wagon elevator |04 and thus removes husks and trash from the co-rn.

Since the husking units |8 pass beneath the tractor a'xle I3, the picking units may be removed from the tractor with comparative ease, since the units need be lowered to the ground only a short distance upon detachment from the tractor. The

members |21a and |21b cooperate to form hopto the tractor, center line and a longitudinalfrom-a midpoint at the base of the triangular frame workvto the apex thereof.

` The conveyorv loops ||2 of the wagon elevator |04 are driven from the shaft 34. As seen in Figure 6, the shaft 34 is connected through uni. versal joints |28 toA a bevel gearl |29 meshing with the bevel gear |30; The bevel gear |30 is carried on a shaft |3|, the lower end'of which carries pulleys |32. Belts A|33 connect the pul- `wagongelevator |04 is not only believed to be newV as a conveying means, but is also novel in relation to the. particular picking units with which it is used. Since the picking units extend beneath the tractor axle, the/corn ears are discharged -from the units at ay lower level than theyV would be if the units extended' overthe axle.- Thus, it would be dimcult to move the ears transversely from the ends of the picking Q units to the longitudinal center line of the tractor for conveying to the wagon, by means of ordinary gravity chutes.V Consequently, a positivev con veying means for moving the corn transversely is of great advantage, and altransverse conveying means forlmoving ears from the picking units conveying means for vmoving ears along the longitudinal center line tothe wagon are combined4 in one in the'conveyingloops H2 forming tlale essential partsl of the novel wagon elevator It will be apparent from the-.foregoing description that a new and novel lharvester con- .struction has been provided. The construction involves'tractor-mounted picking units extending beneath the tractor axle, and the particular novel arrangement of parts 'shown and described is new. This includes the use of a conveyor extending horizontally beneath the husking rolls and diagonally upwardly from the rear thereof as a husked-conveyor and also as a shelled corn saver and conveyor, and also the use of a transverse member such as the tube 66 carried by and to the rear and below the tractor axle 4for support of the picking units. By use of this transverse member, picking units extending beneath the tractor axle may be adjusted laterally with respect to one another and with respect to the tractor for corn rows of various spacings. The transverse member or tube 66, the channel members 62, and the vertical members 6.3 may be considered to constitute means which is secured to the tractor rear axle at points generally adjacent the tractor body and generally over the inner sides of the picking units to transmit load to the rear axle at these points and extends outwardly as far as the outer sides of the picking units Vto provide pivotal mountings "in the uprights 10 for the outer sides of the picking units in addition to the inner sides thereof. It is believed also that the use of the fan in the position shown is novel.

The intention is to limit the invention only within the scope of the appended claims."

What is claimed is:

1. In combination, a tractor having a rear axle, a picker unit extending along one side of the tractor and entirely beneath the rear axle, and means mounting the picker unit on the tractor for pivotal movement of adjustment with respect thereto, comprising a member positioned parallel to and generally below the rear axle and below the portion of the picking unit extending thereunder, means attaching the member to the axle against movement of the member with respect thereto, brackets positioned on the transverse member, means pivotally mounting the picker unit on the brackets, and means for securing each bracket in a plurality of positions spaced along the length of the transverse member for lateral adjustment of the picker unit with respect to the tractor.

2. In combination, a tractor having a rear axle, picker units positioned at opposite sides of the tractor and extending entirely beneath the rear axle, a transverse member extending parallel to and spaced from the rear axle and below the portion oi the picking unit extending thereunder, means securing the transverse member to the axle, means mounting the picker'units on the transverse member for pivotal movement of adjustment with respect'to the tractor, said units extending between the axle and said member, and means for adjusting the position of the lastmentioned means along the length of the transverse member for lateral adjustment of the picker units with respect to one another and with respect to the tractor.

3. In combination, a tractor having a rear axle, a picker unit positioned at opposite sides of the tractor and extending entirely beneath the rear axle, a transverse member extending parallel to and spaced from the rear axle and below the portion of the picking unit extending thereunder, means securing the transverse member to the axle, means mounting the picker unit on the transverse member for pivotal movement of adjustment with respect to the tractor, and means for adjusting the position of the last-mentioned means along the length of the transverse member for lateral adjustment of the picker unit with respect to the tractor.

BENJAMIN M. HYMAN. ELOF K. KARLSSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 484,808 Morral Oct. 25, 1892 1,017,783 Merwin Feb. 20, 1912 1,596,830 Haase Aug. 17, 1926 1,647,793 Schuld Nov. 1, 1927 1,908,952 Brown May 16, 1933 1,991,887 Elmer Feb. 19, 1935 2,255,168 Hyman et al Sept. 9, 1941 2,259,893 Hyman Oct. 21, 1941 2,264,565 Coultas et al. Dec. 2, 1941 2,293,757 Jochumsen Aug. 25, 1942 

